Robert Goulet: A Broadway legend in memorium

Wednesday

Oct 31, 2007 at 12:01 AMAug 5, 2010 at 5:41 PM

Central Ohio theatergoers are fondly remembering Robert Goulet, who died Tuesday at 73.

(PHOTO: Robert Goulet in 1965. Credit: AP)

The Broadway veteran, who catapulted to matinee-idol stardom in 1960 by originating the role of Sir Lancelot in Camelot, has passed. From concerts, TV appearances and movies to the musicals he did on Broadway and on tour (including Camelot and a 1990s tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific that visited Columbus), Robert Goulet entertained millions during his almost-half-century career.

Central Ohio theatergoers are fondly remembering Robert Goulet, who died Tuesday at 73.

(PHOTO: Robert Goulet in 1965. Credit: AP)

The Broadway veteran, who catapulted to matinee-idol stardom in 1960 by originating the role of Sir Lancelot in Camelot, has passed. From concerts, TV appearances and movies to the musicals he did on Broadway and on tour (including Camelot and a 1990s tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific that visited Columbus), Robert Goulet entertained millions during his almost-half-century career.

(PHOTO: Robert Goulet as emcee of a Las Vegas pageant in 2001, with Nikki White (left) and Susan Egan. Credit: The WB/Greg Schwartz)

But he always returned to the stage, either on Broadway (where he won a 1968 Tony award for best musical actor for The Happy Time) or on frequent national tours.

Early in his career, Goulet performed in Kenley Players musicals at Columbus' Veterans Memorial auditorium and around Ohio. And later, during the 1980s and 1990s, the still-handsome actor-singer performed at Columbus's Palace or Ohio theaters more often than perhaps any other aging-but-still-touring Broadway legend.

Among the touring Broadway-series musicals with Goulet that I was fortunate enough to see: South Pacific (1988), The Fantasticks (1990), Camelot (1994) and Man of La Mancha (1996).

Here's an excerpt from my 1990 review of the 30th anniversary revival of The Fantasticks: "Congratulations to composer Harvey Schmidt and author-lyricist Tom Jones, who directed this charmer. In a surprise visit, they showed up last night to hear Robert Goulet sing the world premiere of their new song. This Is the Perfect Time to Be in Love is a lovely first-act addition. It's the kind of old-fashioned, lushly romantic number on which Goulet built his reputation. During the intermission, Schmidt and Jones were obviously delighted. The song was a success. So is the show. As for Goulet, he fit the double role of the Our Town-style Narrator and mock-villainous El Gallo - rather than warping the roles to make them fit him, as so many stars do. Goulet proves he's no has-been."

(PHOTO: Robert Goulet in his star-making Broadway role as Sir Lancelot, backstage at Camelot with aide John Dennis at New York's Majestic Theatre on May 10, 1961. Credit: AP Photo).

If Ever I Would Leave You was the Camelot song that Goulet helped make into a hit and an enduring romantic standard. Now, Goulet has left us.